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150 Inspiring Picture Writing Prompts To Spark Creativity (Free Google Slides)

Use a picture to write a thousand words!

Picture writing prompts including a cartoon cat and mouse and a portrait of a Black family from the 1930s

Creative writing is a challenge for many students, often because they can’t come up with anything to write about. That’s why we love picture writing prompts. Each one sparks the imagination and helps young writers jump right into crafting a story to match. We rounded up a whole collection of intriguing images to help kids in grades K-12 along. Plus we designed a set of free Google Slides featuring all of the prompts so you can easily share them with students.

Tip: Start by showing students the picture (or let them choose from among several) without making any comment about what they’re seeing. For kids who still struggle to get started, suggest a potential title or opening sentence, like the examples included here.

Don’t miss our free downloadable. Grab your full set of ready-to-go Picture Writing Prompts Google Slides with all of the prompts below.

Elementary Picture Writing Prompts

Middle school picture writing prompts, high school picture writing prompts, art picture writing prompts.

When kids first see these picture writing prompts, they may or may not immediately feel inspired. Try asking general questions like these to get them started:

  • What are the names of the people or animals in the picture?
  • How do you think the people or animals in the picture are feeling?
  • How would you describe the setting, including the weather, sounds, smells, etc.?
  • What do you think the people or animals are saying or are about to say?
  • What happened right before this picture was taken? What will happen next?

Included below are more questions for each image to boost creativity, along with potential titles and opening lines.

Dog holding a rose in its mouth, with a heart-shaped cloud in the sky

Opening Line Idea: When Larry fell in love, he fell hard.

Jump-Start Questions: Where did the dog get the rose? Who or what is the dog bringing the rose to? Can the dog talk like a human?

Ask for a Sign

Lighted sign reading ASK hanging from a building

Opening Line Idea: When the new sign appeared on Main Street, everyone in town wondered exactly what it meant. ADVERTISEMENT

Jump-Start Questions: Does the sign read “ask,” or do the letters A-S-K stand for something else instead? Who put up the sign, and why? Why is the sign lit up during the day when no other lights are on?

Snowy Footprints

A series of random footprints in the snow

Opening Line Idea: After that crazy day, all that was left to show for it was footprints in the snow.

Jump-Start Questions: How many different people made these prints? Is this snow, or could it be some other white substance? Were the people who made these prints walking or running?

Dinosaur Bones

Child hiding inside a large toothy skull, reaching out a hand

Opening Line Idea: “Come with me if you want to live!” Ash said, reaching out a hand.

Jump-Start Questions: What creature is this the skull of? Why is the person inside the skull in the first place? Is the person in the picture asking for help or inviting someone to join them inside the skull?

Undersea Treasure

Goldfish swimming around a closed treasure chest sitting in the sand under the water

Opening Line Idea: For years, no one saw the locked treasure chest but the local fish, who wondered what it could contain.

Jump-Start Questions: Who left this treasure chest here, and when? What are three different things that could be inside? Do the bubbles mean there’s something alive inside the chest?

A Game of Fetch

A claymation dog bringing a stick to a snowman in a snowy scene

Opening Line Idea: To Scout, it was a game, but to Mr. Freezy, it was much more.

Jump-Start Questions: Are the dog and snowperson friends? Who built the snowperson, and where did they get the hat? Who does the dog belong to?

Ladybug Gossip

Of pair of spotted red ladybugs perched on a leaf

Opening Line Idea: The ladybug’s picnic was an excellent chance to meet up with old friends and hear all the latest gossip.

Jump-Start Questions: Are these ladybugs friends or enemies? Are the leaves very small, or are the ladybugs very big? Was this picture taken in a garden, a wild meadow, or some other place?

Two children peering in through a barred window

Opening Line Idea: We met them when they peeked into our window, watching us as we watched cartoons.

Jump-Start Questions: Are these children looking into their own house or someone else’s? Do they want to come inside or would they rather stay outside? Who is looking at the children from the other side of the window?

King of the Jungle

Majestic lion perched on a log wearing a crown

Opening Line Idea: It wasn’t the crown that made Amari the king of all he surveyed.

Jump-Start Questions: Is this lion in the wild or in captivity like a zoo? Is the crown real, or is the lion imagining it? How does the person taking the photo feel about the lion?

The Final Pitch

Small child waiting at home base for a baseball pitch that's about to arrive

Opening Line Idea: It all came down to this—the final pitch in a game that was tied 2-2.

Jump-Start Questions: Does the player hit the ball, and if so, do they make it to a base? What is the score of the game so far? How did the player get dirt on their knees?

Doggie Massage

Two dogs sitting in a way that looks like one is giving the other a back massage

Opening Line Idea: Every dog in the neighborhood knew that Rocky gave the best massages and was always willing to lend an ear too.

Jump-Start Questions: Do these two dogs know each other, or did they just meet? Is the dog on the right feeling happy, annoyed, or something else? Give three different reasons why the dogs are sitting like this.

Skateboard Life

Girl in a striped shirt and red headband posing with a skateboard in front of some graffiti

Opening Line Idea: When Charli got her first skateboard, she made herself a promise.

Jump-Start Questions: What does the graffiti on the wall mean, and how did it get there? Where did this girl get her skateboard from? Who taught her how to skateboard?

Garden of the Past

Painting of a woman in old-fashioned clothing walking in a cottage garden

Opening Line Idea: The woman walked in the garden every day, never saying a word.

Jump-Start Questions: Where and when does this garden grow? Who planted this garden and why? What will the woman do with the flowers she is picking?

Sunset Friends

Two children on a jungle gym silhouetted against a setting sun

Opening Line Idea: They met on the jungle gym every day at sunset, sharing everything about their days.

Jump-Start Questions: Was this photo taken in the morning or the evening? What time of year is it? Are the children playing on the jungle gym or just hanging out and talking?

Pink Umbrellas

A sunny alleyway with pink umbrellas strung across it

Opening Line Idea: When the pink umbrellas first appeared, Toni thought they might be magic.

Jump-Start Questions: Where and when was this picture taken? Who hung the pink umbrellas? Who lives in the buildings along this alley?

Firefly Forest

Illustration of a forest at night filled with fireflies

Opening Line Idea: Olivia was surprised to discover that the fireflies didn’t just glow, they also sang.

Jump-Start Questions: Are all the lights in this picture fireflies, or is something else glowing? What does this forest sound and smell like? Would you want to be in this forest alone in the middle of the night?

Robot Spider

A large mechanical spider standing on a stormy beach

Opening Line Idea: When it first crawled ashore, the mechanical spider moved slowly.

Jump-Start Questions: Was this robot spider built by humans, or does it come from another planet? Does the spider run on its own, or is there a person or creature inside it? Where is the spider now, and where is it going?

Fallen House

House tipped on its side following a hurricane

Opening Line Idea: Staring at their house, which was now on its side, the whole family was in shock.

Jump-Start Questions: Who used to live in this house? Was anyone inside the house when it fell, and are they OK? What caused the house to fall but not be completely destroyed?

Red Riding Hood

A young girl wearing a red hooded cape riding a brown horse in the forest

Opening Line Idea: If only she’d been riding her faithful steed the day she’d met the Big Bad Wolf, things might have been very different.

Jump-Start Questions: Why is the girl barefoot? Why is the horse wearing a necklace? Who gave the girl her red hood and cape?

Kangaroo Fall

A kangaroo sprawled on its back in the grass

Opening Line Idea: “Well, this is embarrassing,” thought Bouncer, as laughter filled the air around him.

Jump-Start Questions: Did this kangaroo fall over, or is it just lying down? Where does the kangaroo live? Is there anything in the picture to explain what the kangaroo is doing?

A child's hand-drawn sign for a lost cat attached to a tree

Opening Line Idea: Daci’s big brother said her signs wouldn’t help them find their runaway cat, but he was wrong.

Jump-Start Questions: Is this sign about a real lost cat? Who drew the picture? Does anyone ever find the lost cat?

Penguin Bookshop

An illustration of a penguin wearing a top hat, standing in a booksshop

Opening Line Idea: A visit to Sir Pickerel’s Penguin Bookshop is always an adventure.

Jump-Start Questions: Does the penguin own the bookstore, or is he only shopping there? Where did the penguin get his hat? What kind of books does the penguin like best?

A carton of colorful eggs with faces drawn on them

Opening Line Idea: Of all the eggs in the carton, Ella was the one who could always crack you up.

Jump-Start Questions: Who colored these eggs? Are these real bird eggs or are they made of something else? Where are these eggs, and why are they there?

Children writing a fairground swing ride

Opening Line Idea: That was the year Min was finally tall enough to ride the Sky Swings, but now she wasn’t so sure.

Jump-Start Questions: How high are these swings? Would you want to ride the swings? How would you feel if you were soaring through the air?

Rubber Duck Parade

A row of rubber ducks in various costumes floating down a water-filled gutter

Opening Line Idea: It was truly an honor to be asked to lead the Spring Duck Parade.

Jump-Start Questions: Who put these ducks in the gutter? Are the ducks having fun, or are they being forced to be there? What would you do if you were walking along and saw these ducks?

Teddy Story Time

Three teddy bears posed to look as if they're reading a book

Opening Line Idea: Every afternoon, the three friends gathered for story time in their favorite spot in the woods.

Jump-Start Questions: What book are the bears reading? Where did the bears get the book? Are the bears all the same age?

Underwater School

A child sitting at a desk, looking out the window at fish swimming by

Opening Line Idea: Nia thought going to school underwater would be exciting, but some days she really missed going outside for recess.

Jump-Start Questions: How does the child in the picture feel as she looks out the window? Where is the child? Why does the room look so dark?

A red ball with a smiley face floating on the water

Opening Line Idea: The day Amos started his journey down the river, the sun was shining brightly.

Jump-Start Questions: What body of water is the ball floating in? How did it get there? Who does the ball belong to?

Turtle Trouble

A grumpy looking sea turtle floating in clear water

Opening Line Idea: “None shall pass,” growled the old sea turtle, blocking the way.

Jump-Start Questions: What body of water is the turtle swimming in? How old is the turtle? How did the person who took the picture get so close to the turtle?

Dinosaur Race

An illustration of a young girl racing alongside a dinosaur

Opening Line Idea: Pia was supposed to keep Balthazar on a leash, but once they reached the forest, she set him free and they both began to run.

Jump-Start Questions: What kind of dinosaur is this? Where are the girl and the dinosaur running to (or running from)? Is the dinosaur wild or the girl’s pet?

Finally Seeing Eye to Eye

Cartoon illustration of a large bear with a tiny mouse standing on its nose, looking into its eyes (Picture Writing Prompts)

Opening Line Idea: “So, we meet at last, face-to-face,” Lord Squeakerton said to his enemy, the Count of Catnip.

Jump-Start Questions: How did the mouse get onto the cat’s nose? How does the cat feel about the mouse being there? Are the cat and mouse friends or enemies?

Monkey face with mouth and eyes open in surprise

Opening Line Idea: It takes a lot to surprise a monkey, but you don’t see something like this every day.

Jump-Start Questions: What is the monkey looking at? How was the monkey feeling at that moment? If there was a speech bubble coming out of the monkey’s mouth, what would it say?

Not Coming Out

Child hiding behind a heap of pillows on a beige couch (Picture Writing Prompts)

Opening Line Idea: The day started out normally enough, but by the end, Chris knew he was in over his head.

Jump-Start Questions: Is the child hiding, playing, or doing something else? Is the child at home or at someone else’s house? Are the child’s feet cold without socks?

Life on Other Planets

A space scene showing a robot and robot dog standing on the surface of an alien planet, with a domed habitat behind them

Opening Line Idea: “Hurry up,” Grnklor told his robopup. “We have to get back inside before nightfall.”

Jump-Start Questions: What planet is this? Are the creatures robots, aliens, or something else? Could you breathe the air if you were standing on this planet?

Reindeer Games

Boy leading a reindeer along a snowy path into the setting sun (Picture Writing Prompts)

Opening Line Idea: The wind had died down, but the setting sun seemed to take all the warmth of the day with it.

Jump-Start Questions: Is the sun rising or setting? Who does the tricycle on the right belong to? Where are the child and the reindeer going, and why is the deer wearing a harness?

Something To Celebrate

A young boy raises his arms in triumph as a young girl points at a computer screen, smiling (Picture Writing Prompts)

Opening Line Idea: Their classmates could hear their shouts of joy from all the way down the hall.

Jump-Start Questions: What is showing on the computer screen? How do these kids know each other? Where are these kids?

Home Sweet Mushroom

Illustration of a mushroom turned into a house, with a fence and lighted windows, under a full moon

Opening Line Idea: When the fairies that lived in the garden invited her to stay with them for awhile, Maria wasn’t sure what to expect.

Jump-Start Questions: Who lives in the mushroom? Is this mushroom very big, or are the creatures who live in it very small? Did the mushroom grow this way, or did someone turn it into a house?

Loch Ness Mystery

Model of the Loch Ness Monster rising from a lake

Opening Line Idea: “There it is! I told you Nessie is real!” Angus whispered to Lee.

Jump-Start Questions: Is the creature in the picture real or a statue of some kind? If it’s a statue, who put it there and why? How was the person who took this picture feeling at this moment?

Lonely Bear

Worn teddy bear sitting on a stone bridge

Opening Line Idea: It was hard to say who was lonelier that night, Amil or his lost stuffed bear, Jasper.

Jump-Start Questions: Who does the bear belong to? Is its owner nearby, or is the bear lost? How old is the bear?

Sometimes You Lose

Boy sitting on the ground with his face in his hands

Opening Line Idea: When his team lost the championship, Miguel was crushed, but it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to him.

Jump-Start Questions: Why is the boy upset? What would the boy’s friends say to him? What would his parents say to him?   

Middle school writing prompts can be a little more complex, with pictures that have a lot of potential interpretations. You can use the same questions to kick-start creative thinking as you would with elementary students (see above), plus deeper questions like these:

  • How does the picture make you feel?
  • Who took the picture and why?
  • What incidents led up to the moment of the image?
  • What are three different things that could happen next?
  • Does this picture take place in the past, present, or future?

A pair of light blue Converse sneakers

Opening Line Idea: Morgan was incredibly proud of those shoes, paid for entirely with money from after-school jobs.

Jump-Start Questions: Who is wearing the shoes? Would you like to have shoes like this? Imagine the shoes a year from now, dirty and worn; how did they get that way?

Never Lose Hope

Splotch of green paint with the words

Opening Line Idea: With his last bit of energy, Kai scrawled his message in the wet paint.

Jump-Start Questions: Who wrote this message and why? Where is this message written? Who might see and be inspired by the message?

Computer keyboard with a red button reading Get Me Out of Here

Opening Line Idea: The keyboard button could only be used once, and no one knew exactly what happened when you pressed it.

Jump-Start Questions: Who created this keyboard? Would you press the button? How would you keep from pressing this button accidentally?

Piano Lessons

A young child's hands on a piano keyboard

Opening Line Idea: Before she could even speak, Arya was drawn to the black and white keys.

Jump-Start Questions: Where is this piano, and who does it belong to? Will the child touch the keys gently or bang on them loudly? What song would you play on this piano?

Rolled fern front photoshopped to look as if a baby is sleeping inside

Opening Line Idea: There was no doubt about it, this was was indeed a very special kind of garden.

Jump-Start Questions: Is this a very tiny baby or a very large fern? Who does the baby belong to? Would you like to sleep rolled up in a plant?

A person wearing a dingy bunny costume standing on the end of a dock

Opening Line Idea: No matter how you looked at it, it had been a very rough day to be the Easter Bunny.

Jump-Start Questions: How did the bunny get so dirty? Is this a large bunny, or a person wearing a bunny suit? Where has the bunny been, and where is it going?

Empty Chairs

Four empty beach chairs on the shore, with seagulls flying overhead.

Opening Line Idea: By sunset, all four chairs were empty, and the only signs of life were the gulls swooping down from above.

Jump-Start Questions: Why is one chair a different color from the others? Are these chairs abandoned or just empty temporarily? Why are the seagulls so interested in the chairs?

Floating Treasure

Two black birds sitting on a chest floating in the water

Opening Line Idea: To the birds, it was simply a convenient place to land, but Ali and I knew it was much more than that.

Jump-Start Questions: Would you open this chest if you found it, without knowing what’s inside? What are the spiky shapes on the left side of the picture? Is the bird on the right really there, or is it just a shadow?

Shadow Question

A pair of sneakers and a person's shadow in a puddle

Opening Line Idea: That was the day they discovered that just because you were invisible didn’t mean your shadow was.

Jump-Start Questions: How was this image created, and why? Who do the shoes belong to? How do optical illusions make you feel?

Letter and Key

An old key lying on an old handwritten letter

Opening Line Idea: The day she turned 12, Vivi’s aunt handed her an envelope containing a key … and the family secret.

Jump-Start Questions: What would you hope to find in an old letter like this? How old is the key? Where has this letter been before now?

Space Target

An illustration of a woman aiming an arrow at a target against an outer space landscape

Opening Line Idea: Onyx paused, knowing that once their arrow hit the target, there was no knowing what would happen.

Jump-Start Questions: Is this planet in our galaxy? Is the person pictured a human, a robot, or an alien? What will happen if the person hits the target or misses it?

Mermaid Mystery

A mysterious figure that could be a mermaid, seen from below

Opening Line Idea: It was a mermaid—or was it?

Jump-Start Questions: Is this creature floating in water or in the air? What would you do if you woke up like this one day? How is the creature feeling at this moment?

World on a String

A girl standing on a path, holding a suitcase and a bunch of balloons that look like planets

Opening Line Idea: Her dad had promised to give her the world, but she wasn’t expecting three more planets as well.

Jump-Start Questions: Why is the girl holding a suitcase? Who gave the girl the balloons? What does it mean to “have the world on a string”?

Bee Standoff

Two bees face ot face on a purple flower

Opening Line Idea: “This flower ain’t big enough for the both of us!” said Bianca.

Jump-Start Questions: Are the bees from the same colony or rival colonies? Why is this flower so special to the bees? Do you think the bees are cute or scary?

Solitary Seat

A leather chair next to an old woodstove with a valise and old books

Opening Line Idea: For as long as anyone could remember, Angus McGee spent his evenings in the same chair next to the woodstove.

Jump-Start Questions: How long has it been since anyone sat in this chair? What are the books on the floor? What do you think is in the bag on the left?

Best Friends

A little girl holding a very large teddy bear, dragging it down a dirt road

Opening Line Idea: When you decide to run away from home forever, you can’t possibly leave your best friend behind.

Jump-Start Questions: How is the girl feeling? How far do you think she has already walked? If you were running away from home, what would you take with you?

Dinosaur Demise

Illustration of dinosaurs panicking as a meteor is about to hit the earth

Opening Line Idea: In retrospect, setting the time machine to randomly choose any day and time in the past might not have been such a good idea.

Jump-Start Questions: If you were standing here watching this scene, what would you do? Do these dinosaurs survive whatever happens next? Would you stop the asteroid from killing off the dinosaurs if you could?

Magic Lamps

A collection of green

Opening Line Idea: “Choose wisely,” said the old shopkeeper, “for only one of these lamps is truly magic.”

Jump-Start Questions: Are these lamps brand-new or very old and well cared for? Do you think a magic genie living in a lamp would be good or evil? What wishes would you make, and what would happen if they came true?

Message in a Bottle

Glass bottle on a seashore with a rolled up paper inside

Opening Line Idea: The message floated at sea for more than 50 years before the day we found it on the beach.

Jump-Start Questions: If you found a bottle like this, would you open it on your own or invite others to join you? What would you do with the letter inside? How far do you think this bottle has traveled?

Barrel Boat

Man wearing a life jacket and paddling half a barrel in a lake

Opening Line Idea: Of all the ways to impress someone, Jonah thought to himself, this had to be one of the most ridiculous.

Jump-Start Questions: Why is this person in a barrel instead of a boat? Do you think this looks like fun, or would it be scary? Why is the person wearing a life jacket?

Dragon Guardian

A child sitting in the grass, with a dragon curled up around her

Opening Line Idea: When your parents give you your own dragon guardian, your childhood is bound to be enchanted.

Jump-Start Questions: Is this dragon real or the child’s imaginary friend? Is the dragon young or old? How does the child feel about the dragon?

Octopus’s Garden

Diver encountering a large octopus with fish in the background (Middle School Picture Writing Prompts)

Opening Line Idea: Wouldn’t you like to be under the sea, in an octopus’s garden in the shade?

Jump-Start Questions: Where was this picture taken? Is the octopus attacking the person or just swimming nearby? How much oxygen does the person have left in their tank?

Around the Corner

Girl peering around a corner at a boy walking a dog

Opening Line Idea: After finally pressing “send,” she couldn’t resist peeking around the corner to watch him read the text.

Jump-Start Questions: Do these kids know each other? Does the person in front know the other person is watching them? Who does the car in the distance belong to?

Beam Me Up!

Small child sitting in a field watching a flying saucer beam up its tricycle (Middle School Picture Writing Prompts)

Opening Line Idea: Milo’s earliest memory was of watching his beloved tricycle float into the sky above him, caught in a beam of light.

Jump-Start Questions: Is the tricycle going up or coming down? Where is the light coming from? How does the child in the picture feel right now?

Poison Apple

A red apple held in a skeleton's hand

Opening Line Idea: To join the club, all Aaron had to do was creep up and snatch the apple from the skeleton’s hand without being seen.

Jump-Start Questions: Whose skeleton is this? Is the apple safe to eat? Would you eat this apple?

Giraffe Council

Three giraffes shown from the neck up against a cloudy blue sku

Opening Line Idea: “It is now 3 p.m., and I call this meeting of the Mighty Council of Giraffes to order,” announced Imari.

Jump-Start Questions: Why are these giraffes gathered together? What do giraffes like to talk about? Would you like to be a giraffe?

Mystery Creature

Computer illustrated creature with blue scales, pink spikes, and large eyes

Opening Line Idea: At first glance, it was hard to tell whether the little creature was friend or foe.

Jump-Start Questions: Is this creature big or small? Is it alone, or are there others like it? Would you keep this creature as a pet?

Woman leaping across a chasm silhouetted by an orange sky

Opening Line Idea: As the sky turned orange, Keisha ran faster than ever and used the last of her energy to push off and soar over the water below.

Jump-Start Questions: Why is this person running? Do they make the jump or fall into the water? Is this person jumping or floating?

The End of Days

A boy stands with his bicycle watching as bombs rain down on a city skyline (Picture Writing Prompts)

Opening Line Idea: Despite their best efforts, they arrived too late—the battle had already begun.

Jump-Start Questions: Is the person going to the city or away from it? Who is attacking and why? What would you do if you saw this scene taking place?

Out of the Book

Woman dressed in a blue ball gown peering out of a book lit from inside, with a mouse nearby

Opening Line Idea: “Happily ever after” was about to take on a whole new meaning.

Jump-Start Questions: Where is the light coming from in the book? Does the woman know she’s a book character? What will the mouse do when it sees the woman?

Stopped Clock

Old broken alarm clock stopped at 11:17

Opening Line Idea: I was sure that the time on the broken clock was the clue to solving the mystery.

Jump-Start Questions: How long has this clock been stopped at 11:17? Does the clock still work? Who does the clock belong to?

Dueling Webs

Two dew-covered spiderwebs in the early morning sun

Opening Line Idea: It’s never a good idea to build your web too close to another spider’s, but this time she had no choice.

Jump-Start Questions: How do spiderwebs and spiders make you feel? Were these webs made by one spider or two? Would you knock down these webs or leave them alone?

Do Shoes Grow on Trees?

A bare tree covered with hanging pairs of shoes against a clear blue sky

Opening Line Idea: The day I threw my own shoes into the tree was the day I really started to grow up.

Jump-Start Questions: Who threw the first pair of shoes into the tree and why? If you saw a nice pair of shoes, would you try to get them down? Would you throw your own shoes into the tree?

Abstract Art

Closeup of splotches of colorful paint

Opening Line Idea: “So,” asked their art teacher, “what do you think this painting means?”

Jump-Start Questions: Is the paint wet or dry? Is this the whole painting or a small part of a larger one? Who chose these colors and why?

Wandering Robots

Small cardboard robot in a field of daisies (Picture Writing Prompts)

Opening Line Idea: Everything about NB-317 was made of cardboard except his heart—that was made of flesh and blood and very capable of being broken.

Jump-Start Questions: Who built this robot? Can the robot smell the flowers? Does the robot belong to someone, or is it an independent being?

Dream Come True

Blue house floating in the sky above mountains, held up by blue balloons

Opening Line Idea: It all started when Quinn watched her favorite movie the night before they assigned partners for the eighth grade science fair project.

Jump-Start Questions: What is in the balloons to allow them to lift and carry a house? Is the house coming up or going down? Would you want to be inside the house right now?

Mysterious Cave

Rocky cave with strange geometric patterns in the rock

Opening Line Idea: The cave was unlike anything we’d ever seen before, and what was more, it almost seemed like the rock was alive.

Jump-Start Questions: What made these shapes? What do the shapes look like to you? If this were a rock formation, would you want to explore it?

Storm at Sea

A pirate ship on stormy seas, with a purple sky and dramatic streaks of lightning

Opening Line Idea: As the rain lashed his face and lightning tore apart the sky, Kiran had to admit he’d always thought it would be a lot more fun being a pirate.

Jump-Start Questions: Is anyone on the ship, or is it abandoned? If you were the captain, what would you be thinking right now? What would happen if the ship capsized or was struck by lightning?

Grasshopper Close-Up

A closeup view of a grasshopper looking directly at the camera

Opening Line Idea: That’s when Javed realized it wasn’t that the grasshopper was too big—it was that he was suddenly very, very small.

Jump-Start Questions: Is this grasshopper cute or scary? What is the grasshopper looking at? Would you pick up this grasshopper or shoo it away?

UFO Parking

Sign saying UFO Parking with picture of a flying saucer

Opening Line Idea: “Well, that’s convenient,” Javdok remarked to Qabow when they saw the sign.

Jump-Start Questions: Where is this sign located, and who hung it? Would spaceships need parking lots on land, or could you just leave them in the sky and beam down? Do you think this parking lot is free, and if not, how much does it cost to park a spaceship?   

High school writers are ready to dig deep, exploring character development and detailed plots. These pictures offer a jumping-off point to set their imaginations free. Try questions like these:

  • What mood does the picture evoke?
  • If your friend texted you this picture with no explanation, what would you think?
  • What would you say to the person in the picture?
  • Write five words for each of the five senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste) related to the picture.
  • Is this picture the beginning, the middle, or the end of the story?

Cyborg Girl

An altered image showing a young girl in a black dress with a white collar, with a neck made of mechanical gears

Opening Line Idea: When she was 14, Tasha’s parents finally told her the truth about what she really was.

Jump-Start Questions: Is the cyborg crying or malfunctioning? Who chose the cyborg’s clothes? Has the girl always known she is a cyborg?

BBQ Cookout

Barbeque grill with many different kinds of meat

Opening Line Idea: “So, I’m guessing no one told you I’m a vegetarian?” asked Sadie with a smile.

Jump-Start Questions: What would you do if you were invited to a meal where there was nothing you could eat? Does this meal look delicious or disgusting? Would you rather be the one grilling or the one cleaning up afterward?

Hands holding up a phone with a picture of a baby's face in front an old man's face

Opening Line Idea: The latest app was like a time machine, allowing people to look back in time, but it also had a dark side.

Jump-Start Questions: What is the man thinking about? Why is the baby picture the only part of the image that’s in color? Would you like to be able to see a picture of what you’ll look like when you’re 80 years old?

Woman sitting on a sidewalk with her head on her knees as others walk by

Opening Line Idea: She was surrounded by people but never felt more alone.

Jump-Start Questions: What does the woman’s sign say? Is this person homeless, or is she sitting on the street for another reason? Where will this person sleep tonight?

Hippo Troubles

A hippo mother and baby with its mouth open

Opening Line Idea: Like all parents, hippos sometimes really need a break from their kids.

Jump-Start Questions: Where do these hippos live? Does the mother hippo feel love for her baby? What would happen if a bee flew into the baby hippo’s mouth?

iPad Farmer

Old man in overalls using an iPad while snapping green beans

Opening Line Idea: Grandpa Jack never failed to surprise us.

Jump-Start Questions: What will the man do with the vegetables on his lap? Is this man a farmer or just someone who likes to garden on the weekend? Does it surprise you to see this man using technology in this setting?

Marching Band Blues

Black man in a red shirt sitting on a bench, wearing a sousaphone

Opening Line Idea: Kaleel sat sadly on the bench, watching the rest of the band march away in jaunty time to the music.

Jump-Start Questions: Where is the rest of the marching band, and why isn’t this man with them? How long has the man owned the instrument, and who taught him to play? What kinds of music does this man like to listen to?

Never-Ending Tunnel

A white-tiled tunnel stretching far into the distance

Opening Line Idea: The tunnel seemed to stretch to infinity, but Jayma knew what was at the end, and it terrified her.

Jump-Start Questions: Does this tunnel scare you or intrigue you? Would you rather walk, run, Rollerblade, or ride a skateboard from one end to the other? If the lights suddenly went out, what would you do?

Carving Out Love

A birch tree with

Opening Line Idea: For years, we wondered who “WP” was, and who it was who loved them so much they carved it into a tree for all to see.

Jump-Start Questions: Would you ever carve someone’s initials in a tree? Is carving initials in a tree the same as spray-painting graffiti? Would you feel bad if you had to cut this tree down and burn it for firewood?

Glowing Globe

Man holding a glowing globe in a misty library

Opening Line Idea: Just then, the globe began to glow, and Jaxson knew he was about to leap through space and time once again—destination unknown.

Jump-Start Questions: What causes the globe to glow? Is the globe of Earth or another celestial body? What is the man pointing to?

See No Evil

Three skeletons posed in the classic

Opening Line Idea: It seemed like a funny joke to pose the skeletons in front of old Mrs. Petoski’s house, but then she turned up dead, and the police said it was murder.

Jump-Start Questions: Who put these skeletons here and why? Which is worse: seeing evil, hearing evil, or speaking evil? How would you feel if you knew these were actual human skeletons, not props?

Upside Down

Woman hanging upside down from the ceiling in a kitchen

Opening Line Idea: It’s an odd feeling to wake up one morning and find yourself able to walk on the ceiling.

Jump-Start Questions: What would the advantages and disadvantages of defying gravity be? Can this person go outside without floating away? Why is the microwave on top of the tall refrigerator?

Face at the Fence

Child with their face pressed up against a wire fence

Opening Line Idea: So much depended on which side of the fence you were on.

Jump-Start Questions: Is this child on the outside looking in or the inside looking out? What might the fence be separating the child from? What would happen if the child tried to climb the fence?

Bicycle Race

Three people competing in a bicycle race

Opening Line Idea: Finley had trained too hard for this race to come in third—it just wasn’t good enough.

Jump-Start Questions: Are these bikers competing, working as a team, or just biking for fun? What does the front biker’s arm tattoo symbolize? Is coming in second or third the same as losing?

Family Travels

Vintage photo of a Black family strapping luggage to a car, with a young girl posing in front

Opening Line Idea: In the picture, my grandmother’s expression is hard to interpret, but she’s told me the story many times.

Jump-Start Questions: What’s in the bags? If you saw this family pulled over on the side of the road, would you stop and ask if they needed help? Who gave the girl the ring she’s wearing on her finger?

Laundromat Antics

A pair of legs waving out of a dryer in a laundromat

Opening Line Idea: Dani never expected to meet her first love feet first.

Jump-Start Questions: Is it safe for this person to be inside the washing machine? What would happen if someone closed the door and walked away? Would you ever crawl inside a washing machine or dryer?

Black and white photo of a wedding ring lying on a sheet of notepaper saying "I'm sorry!"

Opening Line Idea: Molly’s mom probably didn’t mean for her to be the one to find the note, but that’s how things turned out.

Jump-Start Questions: What would you do if you found this note and ring? What is the writer sorry for? Would you ever leave a note like this?

Through the Storm

Pickup truck driving through flooded streets in a storm

Opening Line Idea: Javier knew it would have been smarter to stay put, but he had to make sure his mom was safe before the worst of the storm arrived.

Jump-Start Questions: Do you think it would be fun to be driving this truck or too dangerous? What would make you drive around in a storm like this? What will the scene look like after the storm has passed?

Lifetime Friends

Two babies holding hands while being held by adults

Opening Line Idea: They’d been friends for as long as they could remember—even longer, in fact.

Jump-Start Questions: Who is holding the babies, and how do they know each other? What are the expressions on the babies’ faces right now? Is the baby on the right reaching for the other baby’s pacifier?

Stray Kitten

A small kitten facing a person's legs, in black and white

Opening Line Idea: “I am NOT taking you home with me,” Kai told the tiny mewling kitten firmly.

Jump-Start Questions: Would you pick this kitten up and take it home? Is the kitten’s mother nearby? Why is the kitten meowing at the person?

Abandoned Greenhouse

Woman inside an abandoned ramshackle greenhouse in the woods

Opening Line Idea: Willow was free to leave at any time, but she couldn’t make herself go.

Jump-Start Questions: Who built this structure and when? How did the woman get inside? Would you rather knock this structure down or renovate it?

A fence topped by rolls of razor wire against a blue sky

Opening Line Idea: Amani’s earliest memory was razor wire—miles and miles of it.

Jump-Start Questions: Does this fence make you feel safe or anxious? What does this fence separate? If you had to get past this fence, what would you do?

Church Graveyard

An old graveyard outside a stone church

Opening Line Idea: Everyone feels differently in a graveyard, but for me, they’re very peaceful places.

Jump-Start Questions: Who wrote the epitaphs on the front two graves? Do you find this cemetery peaceful or creepy, and would you feel differently at night? Does anyone ever bring flowers to these graves?

Orb of Death

A hooded figure folding out a crystal ball with a spooky image in it

Opening Line Idea: “Do you really want to know?” Death asked. “Because once you know, you won’t be able to forget.”

Jump-Start Questions: Is the globe showing a reflection or a vision? If Death offered to reveal your future, would you accept? Who did the skull on the left belong to in life?

Missed Shot

Men in wheelchairs playing basketball, as one laments a missed shot

Opening Line Idea: Steve was sure his shot would make it, but it bounced off the rim just as the buzzer rang to end the game.

Jump-Start Questions: Is the player in front happy, sad, or something else? Would you rather be playing in the game or watching the game? What is the referee thinking about?

First Contact

Alien figure with a human in a spacesuit visible in the window behind them (High School Picture Writing Prompts)

Opening Line Idea: This was it—the moment that would change what it meant to be human forever.

Jump-Start Questions: What is reflected in the astronaut’s mask? Will the alien and the human be able to communicate with each other? How would you feel if you were the first human to meet an alien?

One Life To Live

An old man wearing a cowboy hat sits in front of a house (Picture Writing Prompts)

Opening Line Idea: His face said his life had been a hard one, but his eyes told a different tale.

Jump-Start Questions: Where and when did this man get his hat? If you could ask this man one question, what would it be? Why did this man decide to grow a mustache?

Winter Walk

Snow-covered field with a winding trail of footprints

Opening Line Idea: Snow fell, creating a blank canvas to record the story of that fateful walk.

Jump-Start Questions: How would you feel if you were walking in the snow in this scene? How would you find out what made the tracks? How far from civilization was this picture taken?

Train to Nowhere

Sepia-toned image of an old sleeper train car in disrepair

Opening Line Idea: It certainly wasn’t the most luxurious way to travel, but then again, no one really wanted to make this trip in the first place.

Jump-Start Questions: What would it feel like to sleep here? Why has this place been abandoned? If you looked through the windows, what would you see outside?

Modern Mary Poppins

Woman standing in the middle of a wheat field on a gray day, holding an umbrella and bag

Opening Line Idea: She dropped into our lives on a gray day in midwinter, a hint of the spring that was to come.

Jump-Start Questions: What is in the person’s bag? What are they waiting for? Who made the tracks in this field?

All That Remains

A chair sits in the hallway of an abandoned building under a shaft of light from above (High School Picture Writing Prompts)

Opening Line Idea: Dust motes filled the air of the abandoned hallway, replacing the voices once heard there.

Jump-Start Questions: Where is the light coming from? What is written on the walls? What would you hear if you were standing here?

A very small bunny being carried in a shirt pocket

Opening Line Idea: From the day he found the little creature, Luis refused to go anywhere without him.

Jump-Start Questions: How would you feel if you were talking to this person and the animal suddenly poked its head out? What will happen when the creature is too big to fit in the pocket? Would you like a pocket-size pet?

The Question

Figure holding flowers behind its back, with a woman turning to look in the background

Opening Line Idea: Their happily ever after began quietly, with a bouquet of wildflowers.

Jump-Start Questions: What is the person in front about to say to the other person? Did they pick the flowers themselves, and do they have any special meaning? Where do the railroad tracks come from and go to?

Night Lights

A person holding an umbrella walks down an alley toward a street filled with neon lights

Opening Line Idea: Misty rain both blurred and emphasized the lights that lit Suri’s way home that evening.

Jump-Start Questions: What is this person thinking about as they walk along? If this were you, would feel safe walking alone at night? What do you think the various signs say?

Forest of Fear

Black and white photo of tree trunks with arms and hands reach out from behind them (Picture Writing Prompts)

Opening Line Idea: At first, Mateo thought it was a joke, but the screams that followed told him there was nothing remotely funny about it.

Jump-Start Questions: Are there people behind the trees, or are the arms coming out of the trees themselves? Would you investigate or run away? What would you say to these people?

Closeup of a human eye, with the pupil represented as a camera lens

Opening Line Idea: At the elite level, being a spy meant serious commitments.

Jump-Start Questions: Would you like a cybernetic eye? What would you do if you woke up and found yourself with one against your will? Is this a human with an artificial eye or a very human-like cyborg?

The Yellow Door

A row of white doors with one yellow door (Picture Writing Prompts)

Opening Line Idea: On their 14th birthday, every resident of Fresnia was required to stand before the Wall of Doors and make a choice.

Jump-Start Questions: Would you have painted this door yellow or chosen a different color? Do all the doors lead to the same place? Would you open the yellow door first, last, or not at all?

Graffiti Palace

Abandoned warehouse with graffiti on the walls

Opening Line Idea: To strangers, it seemed random, but every mark on those walls had deep meaning for us.

Jump-Start Questions: Do you see this graffiti as vandalism or art? If you found a can of spray paint here, would you add your own contribution? What did this building used to be?

Fossil Fish

Fish fossil in light-colored stone

Opening Line Idea: Millions of years ago, the fish gave one final flop before lying still in the deep mud.

Jump-Start Questions: How did this fish die? How was it different from modern fish? What other fossils do you think might be found nearby?

On the Rails

Woman standing on railroad tracks holding a guitar and looking off into the distant sunset (Picture Writing Prompts)

Opening Line Idea: Aliyah stood on the tracks, uncertain of where to go next.

Jump-Start Questions: Is it safe for this person to be walking along these railroad tracks? What kind of music does the person like to play on their guitar? Is the person alone by choice?

These picture prompts are all works of art, some more well known than others. Try providing them to students without sharing the titles first, then offer up the titles if they need some help getting started. We’ve also provided some opening line ideas.

The Dance Class (Edgar Degas)

The Dance Class by Edgar Degas

Opening Line Idea: The studio was dusty, noisy, and crowded, but it was also home.

Greek Funerary Plaque (520-510 BCE)

Greek Funerary Plaque

Opening Line Idea: With one final tap and last dab of paint, the tablet was complete at last.

Washington Crossing the Delaware (Emanuel Leutze)

Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emanuel Leutze

Opening Line Idea: Was it bravery or sheer foolish bravado?

Kyōsai’s Pictures of One Hundred Demons

Kyōsai’s Pictures of One Hundred Demons

Opening Line Idea: “So this is where the wild things are,” she thought.

First Steps, After Millet (Vincent van Gogh)

First Steps by Vincent Van Gogh

Opening Line Idea: After so many years of hope and disappointment, this child made it all worthwhile.

Lady Lilith (Dante Gabriel Rossetti)

Lady Lilith by Dante Gabriel Rosetti

Opening Line Idea: Every night, without fail, 100 slow and steady strokes, just like her mother taught her.

A Sunday on La Grande Jatte (Georges Seurat)

A Sunday on La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat

Opening Line Idea: At what point does afternoon become evening?

After the Hurricane, Bahamas (Winslow Homer)

After the Hurricane, Bahamas by Winslow Homer

Opening Line Idea: The skies were clearing, but the seas raged on.

Drawing Lots for Prizes (Kitagawa Utamaro)

Drawing Lots for Prizes by Kitagawa Utamaro

Opening Line Idea: It was fun at first, but I soon grew tired of the never-ending parties, dancing, music, and false laughter.

Portions of Field Armor (Jacob Halder)

Portions of a Field Armor by Jacob Halder

Opening Line Idea: The armor shone in the morning sun; by evening it would be scratched, worn, and covered in blood.

Sadie Pfeifer, a Cotton Mill Spinner (Lewis Wickes Hine)

Sadie Pfeifer, a Cotton Mill Spinner by Lewis Wickes Hine

Opening Line Idea: She’d never realized the factory would be so incredibly loud, the noise unrelenting and cruel.

Still Life With Monkey, Fruits, and Flowers (Jean Baptiste Oudry)

Still Life With Monkey, Fruits, and Flowers by Jean Baptiste Oudry

Opening Line Idea: “This is why we can’t have nice things,” she complained.

Man Leading a Giraffe, 5th Century Byzantine

Man Leading a Giraffe, 5th Century Byzantine

Opening Line Idea: At this point, he couldn’t help but wonder: Was he leading the giraffe or was the giraffe leading him?

The Three Skulls (Paul CĂŠzanne)

The Three Skulls by Paul CĂŠzanne

Opening Line Idea: Nothing bothered her more than the empty, vacant eyes.

The Madame B Album (Marie-Blanche Hennelle Fournier)

The Madame B Album by Marie-Blanche Hennelle Fournier

Opening Line Idea: “Definitely a new species,” confirmed the curator.

Coiled Trumpet in the Form of a Snarling Feline Face (c. 100 BCE to 500 CE)

Coiled Trumpet in the Form of a Snarling Feline Face (c. 100 BCE to 500 CE)

Opening Line Idea: The trumpet called them all to attention, and the audience fell silent in an instant.

Crazy Quilt With Animals (Florence Elizabeth Marvin)

Crazy Quilt with Animals by Florence Elizabeth Marvin

Opening Line Idea: Every stitch and scrap spun a story.

Storytime (Eugenio Zampighi)

Storytime by Eugenio Zampighi

Opening Line Idea: They could spend hours there, and they often did.

Cubist Village (Georges Gaudion)

Cubist Village by Georges Gaudion

Opening Line Idea: The Land of Oz looked very different from how Dorothy had described it.

Zig-Zag Passenger and Freight Train (Unknown)

Zig-zag Passenger and Freight Train (Unknown)

Opening Line Idea: Frankly, I didn’t care where the train was going, or how long it would take to get there.

The Power of Music (William Sidney Mount)

The Power of Music by William Sidney Mount

Opening Line Idea: Sammy wanted to join in and lift his voice, but he knew they’d never welcome him in.

The Large Tree (Paul Gauguin)

The Large Tree (Paul Gaugin)

Opening Line Idea: Outsiders saw it as paradise, and they weren’t far off.

After the Bath (Mary Cassatt)

After the Bath (Mary Cassatt)

Opening Line Idea: Motherhood was exhausting, but she found the rewards very sweet indeed.

Wedding Gown (Korea, Late 1800s)

Wedding Gown (Korea, Late 1800s)

Opening Line Idea: It was the most important gown she’d ever wear, and she begrudged every single stitch it took to make it.

The Contemplator (Eugène Carrière)

The Contemplator (Eugène Carrière)

Opening Line Idea: Looking back, she seemed to see everything through a strange, dusty haze.

The Girl I Left Behind Me (Eastman Johnson)

The Girl I Left Behind Me (Eastman Johnson)

Opening Line Idea: She was an old woman now, but when I thought of her, it was always as a brave, stoic child, standing tall atop the hillside as we trudged into the distance.

24c Curtiss Jenny Invert Single

24c Curtiss Jenny invert single

Opening Line Idea: “Do you think anyone will notice?” asked Mr. Semple nervously.

Creeping Baby Doll Patent Model

Creeping Baby Doll Patent Model

Opening Line Idea: “Well, that’s mighty unsettling,” Pa said.

Wrecked Zeppelin (British Library)

Wrecked Zeppelin photograph from The British Library

Opening Line Idea: The wreckage drew crowds for weeks, but the great balloon’s demise made little difference in the end.

Skeleton (Tales of Terror Frontispiece)

Skeletons Frontispiece from Tales of Terror

Opening Line Idea: “Here we go again,” Cedric moaned, as the skeletons pulled him from the grave once more.

Get Your Free Picture Writing Prompt Google Slides

Just click the button below to fill out the form and get instant access to free downloadable Picture Writing Prompts Google Slides with all the prompts included above.

How do you use picture writing prompts in your classroom? Come share ideas and ask for advice in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

These picture writing prompts are a unique way to excite young creative writers. Find options for all grades on a variety of subjects.

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Story Writing Academy

70 Picture Prompts for Creative Writing (with Free Slides)

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Visual writing prompts help young writers generate new ideas and overcome writer’s block. We’ve put together 70 picture prompts for creative writing that you can use for morning work or in your writing centers or lesson plans to get your students’ creative juices flowing.

70 PICTURE PROMPTS FOR CREATIVE WRITING TEXT OVERLAY WITH TWO VISUAL WRITING PROMPTS

The Benefits of Using Visual Writing Prompts

Writers of all ages and experience levels can get stuck thinking about what to write. Writer’s block is not just a challenge for reluctant writers. Even professional writers have days when they feel less than inspired.

Visual prompts can result in a vast array of story ideas. A single image viewed by ten writers will result in ten completely different short stories. Even if you use verbal cues to get students thinking about the picture, each student will still write a unique response to the image.

Visual creative writing prompts are fantastic for elementary school because younger students often relate more to a pictorial prompt than a written one, but don’t shy away from using these with high school and middle school students as well. Pictures make a fun alternative to your typical writing prompts and story starters and can help shake up your regular English language arts routine.

How to Use Picture Prompts for Creative Writing

There’s no limit to the ways you can use writing prompts. Here are some of our favorite ways to incorporate image prompts into your weekly lesson plans .

  • Writing Center. Print cards or writing pages with these images on them and put them in a writing center for your students to discover at their own pace.
  • Specific Skills. Use story picture prompts to help kids work on specific writing skills. For example, you could work on descriptive writing by having them describe the setting of the picture in detail, character development by having them make up a history for a person (or animal) in the picture, or narrative writing by having them make up a story based on the picture.
  • Warm-up Activity: Download the slides that accompany this post and project an image on a screen or whiteboard for the first fifteen minutes of class and have students work on a short story as soon as they enter. This helps jumpstart the creative process before you move into your regular writing program.
  • Independent Work: If you need a fun activity for kids to do when they’ve completed their assignment and are waiting for other students’ to finish, keep a supply of these images on hand and challenge them to write flash fiction of 250 words or less while they wait.
  • Sub binders: Want to have some easy, no-prep projects on hand for those days when you’re unexpectedly away? Elementary picture writing prompts are perfect for substitute teachers to do with your students in your absence.
  • Distance learning: If you are working with students whom you don’t see face-to-face, picture writing prompts are a great way to inspire them. You can use them in a virtual lesson to kickstart a discussion on brainstorming story ideas or post a few of these images to your learning management system and let students select the one they want to write about.

No matter how you decide to use them—whether at home or in the classroom—photographic writing prompts are a great way to cultivate a daily writing habit and encourage kids to explore new topics.

Picture Writing Prompts for Kids

We’ve selected 70 of the most interesting pictures we could find for this exercise. When choosing photos for writing prompts, we look for high-quality photos with intriguing subject matter, but we try to go beyond that. We want to share images that suggest a story, that make the viewer ask questions and wonder why things are the way they are.

We want to feel propelled to explore questions like, What happened before the photo that led to this moment? What are we witnessing in this photo? What’s about to happen?

A photo doesn’t make much of a story starter if it doesn’t suggest that there might be a bigger picture lurking beneath the surface.

We hope you and your students love these picture prompts for creative writing as much as we do. If you love them, go ahead and fill out the form below to grab your own copy.

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We’ve included a couple of questions with each picture that you could use to spark pre-writing conversations in your classroom, which can be helpful when working with younger students who might need a little more direction.

Bear in mind though that some kids really struggle with these types of questions that ask them to make inferences about details that they can’t possibly know the ‘answer’ to. When you ask them things like, “What was the author probably trying to do?” they have no idea and won’t dare to hazard a guess. If you are working with kids who feel paralyzed by these questions, now is not the time to push them. Ignore the questions completely and have them simply focus on the picture.

It could be a good idea to write a few short stories yourself based on a single picture to show demonstrate how there are no wrong answers in this exercise—only endless possibilities.

70 Picture for Story Writing with Guiding Questions

  • Whose cat is this? What is he looking at? Where is he?

a cat sits alone against a blue wall

2. What is the owl thinking about? Is he alone? What does he hope to eat for dinner?

an owl sits outside

3. Who are these frogs? What is their relationship with each other? Why are they taking photos?

two toy frogs stand in a field. One takes pictures of the other.

4. How did the dog get a phone? Why is he taking selfies? What is he doing with the pictures he takes?

a dog lays on a field and takes selfies

5. This cat doesn’t look too happy. What’s bugging him? Did he get too many phone calls or is he waiting on an important call that’s taking too long to come?

a black and white cat sits beside a phone

6. What do these chicks think of the dog? What does the dog think of the chicks? Do you think they can communicate with each other? If so, what would they say?

a dog lies beside two chicks

7. Where do these lemurs live? What are they looking at? What is something unusual that might happen to them?

a lemur lies on a branch while another hides in the background

8. What is this fox doing? Is he yawning and stretching or is he trying to scare someone away? What kind of mischief does he like to get up to?

a fox stretches and opens its mouth

9. Is this wolf alone? If not, who is with him? What is he planning to do? Does he have a family to feed or protect?

a lone wolf stands in a misty clearing

10. What is this child doing on the laptop? Can he actually read and type or is he just playing? If he can read and type, how did he learn that at such a young age? What other cool things can he do?

a toddler wearing a toque and glasses types on a laptop

11. Where is this woman? Is she lost? How did she get to this street? What interesting things might she discover as she explores this new city?

a woman stands in an empty street holding a map

12. Why is the dog wearing glasses? Can he see through them? What are he and the girl doing? How does he feel about it?

a woman holds a dog. Both wear glasses.

13. Who are these two little boys? What is their relationship with each other? What is the teddy bear’s story?

two boys sit in a bath holding a teddy bear

14. Who are these children? Why are they running? Is it a race or are they playing a game? Who’s going to win?

a group of children run across a field

15. Whose horse is this? Does the little boy own it or does he just visit it? Can the horse talk? How does the boy feel when he’s with the horse?

a boy sits on a fence and feeds a horse

16. What is this boy reading? Does the book have a magical power? Does the boy? Do the stories in the book become real or does something else special happen?

a boy reads a book that has some magical elements in it

17. Where is this man? How did he get there? What is he looking for?

a man dressed like a pirate looks through a telescope

18. Who is walking over the bridge? What’s on the other side? Is it worth the risk?

a top-down view of a person crossing a bridge

19. What are these people doing on the elephant? Where are they? Are they tourists or is the elephant their pet? What would life with an elephant be like?

two people ride an elephant through a field

20. Who made this map? It looks old. Has it been hidden away for a long time? Who discovered it and how? What does it lead to?

an old map

21. Whose typewriter is this? What important or secretive thing might they be working on? What could happen if the wrong person finds their work?

an old typewriter

22. Who are these three stuffed animals? Are they living? What is their story?

the backs of three stuffed animals

23. Whose ukulele is this? Why did they leave it here? Who might find it?

a green ukulele sticks out of the sand

24. Where is the owner of the bike? Where does this path lead? What if the bike’s not there when the owner returns?

a bike leans against a wooden railing

25. Whose shoes are these? Why did they leave them here? Why are they so dirty?

a pair of dirty shoes in the mud

26. Who was reading the newspaper? What was the most interesting thing they read? Where have they disappeared to?

a stack of newspapers, a white cup, and a pair of glasses

27. Who put this sign on the old truck? What do you think of it? How did the truck end up in its current condition and location?

a deserted old truck

28. Who set the table? Who are they expecting? What special occasion are they celebrating? What could go wrong?

a fancy table setting

29. Whose birthday cake is this? Are they having a party? Who is there? Who did they want to have there that didn’t show up?

a birthday cake

30. Who lives here? How do they access their home? What is their life like?

a home surrounded by water

31. Who built the igloo? Where is it? How does it feel to spend the night inside it?

an igloo

32. What is the history of this castle? Who lives in it now? Does it have any special or magical features?

a castle

33. Is this barn abandoned or do people live on the property? What kind of animals might live here? How do they keep themselves entertained?

a big red barn

34. What is it like living on a houseboat? What kind of community do you think forms among the neighbors? Imagine you live on one of these boats and think about how your daily life might change. What interesting things could you do if you lived here? What would you miss the most?

a row of houseboats

35. Where is this hut? Who lives here? What mystery might unfold if a stranger came knocking at their door?

a round hut

36. What is this lighthouse called? Who runs it? How often do they leave? What is the most memorable experience they’ve had as a lighthouse operator?

a lighthouse

37. How did this house get here? Does anyone live in it? What would life be like here?

a house on a rock surrounded by water

38. Where is this festive street? Are the people there celebrating something? Where is everybody?

a colorful European town

39. Who lives here? How did they build this house? Are they hiding from something? What does it look like inside?

a hobbit house with a yellow door

40. Whose notebook is this? Why did they leave it here? What’s written in it and how might it change the life of the person who finds it?

a notebook lying on a beach

41. What are these women doing? What are they supposed to be doing? Will they be in trouble if they get caught?

two women playing on a piece of wood

42. Who might be represented in this statue? Why is she being pulled by lions? What amazing things might she have done to deserve a statue in this prominent place?

a statue of a woman being pulled in a carriage by two lions

43. Where is this? Who is riding in the hot air balloons? Where are they going and why?

hot air balloons fly over a town

44. How old is this large tree? Where is it? What are some of the most fascinating stories it could tell?

an old oak tree

45. Where is this carousel? Who is riding it? Can you think of a special or strange story about how it came to exist in this particular place?

a woman rides a carousel

46. What are these people thinking about? What’s at stake for them? What happens if one of them sneezes?

tightrope walkers walk on tightropes

47. Where are these penguins? What are they talking about? Which one of them is the leader?

4 penguins stand in a huddle

48. What is this place? Was it designed to be open like this or was it once part of someone’s home or a public building? How have people’s opinions of this place changed over time?

a room with statues in it

49. Who are these kids? Is this what they’re supposed to be doing? What happens when their teacher sees them?

kids play around in a dance studio

50. Who is supposed to ride in this boat? Where are they going? Will they make it there?

a small boat with a fancy seat

51. Is this plane special to someone? What did they have to do to get it/build it? Where will they fly to in it?

a yellow plane

52. Who decorated this train car? Which passengers will fill it up? What will they talk about?

an upscale train car with fancy seats

53. Whose skis are these? Why are they sticking out of the snow? How did their owner get down the mountain without them?

two skis and two poles stick out of a snowbank

54. Where does this gondola go? Who rides it? How does it feel to ride it?

a gondola

55. Who’s driving the monster truck? Why is it at the beach? What is it going to crush? Who is watching?

a monster truck does tricks on a beach

56. Where is the boat going? Who is on it? What is their mission?

a ship sails away from shore

57. What city is the helicopter flying over? Why? Is the driver looking for something specific or do they have a special delivery?

a helicopter flies over a city

58. What’s the little boy doing in the boat? Is he alone or is someone with him? Where is he trying to go?

a little boy holds an oar in a boat

59. Who is in the sub? What’s it like inside? What are they doing?

a submarine

60. Whose book is this? What’s it about? What’s happening to it?

a book that has water flowing out of it

61. How did that piece of land with the house on it break off from the rest of the world? Why? Where is it going? Is anyone in the house?

a fantasy graphic with a piece of land separating from the earth and floating away

62. Who is this girl? Where is she? Who is she shooting at?

a woman in the woods shoots a bow and arrow

63. Where does this scene take place? Is the lizard/dragon good or bad? What is its relationship with the girl?

a girl standing on the tip of a cliff pats the nose of a giant lizard

64. What do these books represent? What kind of world is this? What (or who) is inside the books?

a row of books designed to look like houses

65. What are these dinosaurs discussing? Where are they? What do they do for fun?

two dinosaurs

66. Whose cottage is this? Do they still live there? If not, where have they gone? If so, what do they do there?

a fairy tale cottage in the woods

67. What is the moth thinking about? Is it alone? What’s the biggest challenge it faces in this moment?

a moth on a flower

68. Who is the owl looking at? Has it read these books? What is its greatest talent?

an owl wearing beside a stack of books

69. Where are these trees? Why are they pink? Do they have any special powers or features?

trees in a wood covered with something pink

70. What are these best friends thinking about? Do they have something to hide? What adventures do they go on together?

a cat and a dog lie together on a book

What do you think? Which kind of pictures do you like best for creative writing prompts ? Let us know in the comments.

Thursday 18th of July 2024

This was fun

Thursday 9th of May 2024

I love this website because I was using it with my kindergartners and it work so so so well!!!!

Monday 20th of May 2024

That's wonderful. Thanks for sharing!

Tuesday 5th of March 2024

I LOVE these! My daughter has always struggled with written story prompts and an internet search this week convinced me of the value of picture prompts for reluctant readers/writers (https://youcanjournal.com/journal-picture-prompts/ if you're interested!). I'll definitely be using these to help improve her writing skills. Thanks so much!

Tuesday 26th of December 2023

I think the idea of using picture prompts is a great idea. It initiates oral language thus building vocabulary. It allows lends itself to students working in small groups to stimulate new ideas. The prompts engage the students and gives the teacher the opportunity to focus on specific writing skills.

luke elford

Wednesday 13th of December 2023

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  1. 100 Creative Writing Picture Prompts BUNDLE

    picture prompts for creative writing ks2

  2. 70 Picture Prompts for Creative Writing (with Free Slides)

    picture prompts for creative writing ks2

  3. 85+ Picture Writing Prompts For Kids (+ Free Printable)

    picture prompts for creative writing ks2

  4. 28 Creative Writing Exercises and Prompts

    picture prompts for creative writing ks2

  5. over 200 creative writing prompts KS2 KS3 KS4 by erylands

    picture prompts for creative writing ks2

  6. Picture Writing Prompts

    picture prompts for creative writing ks2